Cable connecter



Feb. 24, 1931- G. c. THQMAS, im

CABLE CONNEGTER Filed July ze, 192e IFNENTR 45 ing before fashioningiit into final form. Fig

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITEDsTATEs PATENT oir-FICE GEORGE c. THOMAS, JR.,` `E ELTZAEETEr,` NEW JERSEY, AssiGNoR To THE THOMAS e BETTs o0., 0E ELIZABETH,` NEW JERSEY, A coRPoRATi'o'N or NEW JERSEY cnELE CONNECTER Appnanon med Juiy ze,

rlhis invention relates to cablebox `and v connecting means and `particularly to imy` `An obj ect of the invention is toproduce an improved cable connecter of the typewhich leaves exposed a part of the Vbox hole edge and which is capable, of anchoring itself and a cable to said exposed part of a boxhole edge Without'screiv fastening means directly connected with the box; and to combine there` with improved box hole edgejabutments by vhich the connecter anchors itself in a box iole. Afurther object of the present invci'ition is to combine an improved `cable bearing clampplatewith the connecter andto provide means by which this cable clamp `is movably carried by the connecter, and to provide operating means carried by the connecter which reacts from the stationary cable to anchor the connecter tothe box hole edge and to simultaneously grip the exposed box hole edge.

Other objects andimprovementsare set forth in the specification describingan exaniple of the invention.

The accompanying drawings show an example Vof the invention serving to explain its principles, constructiomand mode of application to an electricfixture box.` n

"The first threefiguresshoiv a fiat plate stamping from which a main part of the connecter is made. `Figure 1 is a plan view of the connecter plate before subjecting it to bending operations, Figure 2 being a similar view but having its end corners and an end tongue between the corners struclr'up to provide box hole edge anchorage means, and

Figure 3 shovvsa part of the connecter plate bent atright angles to complete the struc ture of this part;` i

Figures 4to 6 inclusive show thefcable clamp and the manner of forming it. Fig ure i is a plan view of the cable clamp stampf Figure 6 is a view of thebody of the clamp the cable against 192e. Serial No. 124,816.

plate bent at right angles to the main portion thereof. y i

Figures 7 and 8 shoiv the foregoing two main parts, namely, the connecter plate and the"v cable clamp placed in spaced position and ready to be assembled. x i

v Figures 9 and 10 show assembly views of the connecter plate and cable clamp together with operating means, the first view being a side elevation and the latter View being an end elevation.` l

Figure 11 shows the connecter', cable and box assembled'with all parts in final anchored position.

Referring further to the drawing, an electric fixture box B is provided with cable and connecter receiving holes H to receive the cable C and this improved connecter is mount ed in the box hole H and operates to simultaneously anchor itselfand the cable in the box hole andto the edge thereof by actuation `of a single operating means. .l

`The first three figures show the manner of producing the connecter plate which coinprises a flat stamping 12 which may have an end 13 provided withaJ Wire passage 14.. The connecter plate 12 may be provided with a threaded screw hole 15 for the reception of a screw when a screw is employed as operating means. i

:One end or side of the connecter plate is madewith corners 16 and a tongue 17 projecting centrally between and beyond the corners 16. The tongue is sufliciently narrow to fit into a box hole and overreach the edge thereof. The corners mayto advantage l have a protruding angular edge 18 by which to increase their overlapping distance with respect to a box hole edge when mounted in a box hole. The projecting tongue 17 and angular corners 16 are struck up or bent up to provide spaced abutment means on the connecter adapted to overlap both sides of a box hole edge and thereby establish the connecter against longitudinal displacement in awbox hole. f j l The connecter plate 12 is fashioned into ultimate form, as shown inside elevation in Figure 7, by subjectingr it to a right angular bendingoperation between the Wire passage 14; and screw hole 15 and thus the connecter plate assumes the shape as shown in the side views with its spaced abutments on one end of the connecter plate to engage a box hole edge received thereinbetween and the wire passage 141 is on the other end. Y

Referring now to Figures 1, 5 and 6 `for a description of an improved cable clampbearing plate, or cable clamp, there is shown a part which may it desired be constructed of lighter' weight sheet metal. VrlChe part 'con-'fi sists of a bearing plate 20 including outstanding arms 21 and including ifdesired a cable a passage 22 defined by prongs 23 or other suitable means so as to produce a cable passage 22 of satisfactory form and suliiciently large to permit the cable C to be passed therethrough. Y

The arms 21 are bent substantially at right angles to the bearingplate 2O and stand parallel above the plate to embrace the connecter plate 12. The cable clamp is fashioned into linal form by subjecting it to a right angular bendingoperation so as to dispose the cable lpassage 22 at an angie or at right angles to the bearing plate 20 and it is then in completed form as shown in sideelevation in Figure 8. This type ot cable clampis suitf able tor any connecter plate having av construction similar to that described and shown herein and having any type ot' box hole anchorage means. y j

The-two main parts as above described .are placed together asshown in the assembly views and the retaining arms 21 are bent on their outer ends to form overreaching fingers 23 by which the two parts 12`and 20 are movably held together inV parallel relationship. i' The arms 22 reach alongside necter-by'whichpressure is applied to Vforce Y the two parts 12 and v20 apart. While a screw is shown as'operating means, it isvto be understood that any other element may beV yused by which reaction is produced betweenl the parts to vforcibly move them in'opposite direction. 'Y Y n A. screw 25^may be employed as operating means fand is screwthreaded throughthe hole 15 and directed towards the cable 'C and the end oit the screwi-s adapted. to bear against andapply pressure tothe cable bear-- ing clamp plate 2O.` The screwl threads Vthroughthe connectery plate 12 and is adapted to react against the cable clampV 2O which reaches a stationary position when it bears on the cable. The screw may to advantage be carried `on that part ofthe connecter which is designed to be placed on the inside of the I box so that theoperating means i-s actuated lby application ofatool inserted inside of the box. v

In usingl the connecter, it 1s mounted in kthe box by hookingV the abutment tongue 17 through the box holejsincel that part is made small enough to lit through the Y box hole. The abutment corners 16 rest against the box wall adjacent thehole edge on the side of the box opposite the abutment 17 and thus the box hole edge rests between abutments 16 and 17v to anchor the connecter against longiktudinal displacement. The screw is backed out or-partly unscrewed to permit the cable clamp 20 to be lifted upclose to the connecterl plate 12 and thereuponthe cable CV is inserted. vThe wires W pass through the bushing hole or wire passage 14. The cable pas- V22 permits the cable to rest close to the cable clamp plate 20 and the prongsk 23 slide up and down by the cable during movement of the cablexclamp. Y Y

The screw 25 is now run down towards the cable C. The cable clamp 2O receives the pressure of the screw and-forcibly moves the cable laterally with respect to box hole axis and vgrips the cable against the exposed box holeedgeportion H2. rllhereaction 'of the screw l25 and cable'clamp 2O against the stationary cable causes the spacedabutment meansl and 17 to be positively anchored in Y anoverlapping manner against a box portion at the concealedor vcovered over box hole edge.

rigidexposed box hole edge is employed as the anchorageifor both the cable and con- Thus the cableis attached to'thebox by' actuation of asingle operating means. The

necter resulting in certain advantages,name# 1y, that of establishing positive electrical? ground contact between a cable, where armored cable is used, and the box, and at the same time the connecter may bek constructed relatively light since its function isto attach the cable to the exposed box hole edge f rather than fasten the cable to the connecter.

What I claim is: v. Y f 1. A connecter comprising two main parts and embodying a plate having box hole edge abutments, and formed to lit into a box hole and leave a part of its edge exposed to a cable, and provided with a screw threaded through the plate adjacent the abutments and pointed toward and adapted toreact'from acable lupon,tightening of the screw to anch'orthevr abut-ments in a box hole, a cableclamp mounted movably onthe connecterfunder the screw end and adapted to be forcedv against a cable "by said screw, and'ineans'inclufding arms on the connecter `integral .with one part and llO reaching over the edge of the other part to hold together in movable relation the clamp and plate.

2. A connecter comprising two main parts and embodying a plate having box hole edge abutments, and formed to .tit into abox hole and leave a part of its edge exposed to a cable, and provided with a screw threaded through the plate adjacent the abutments and pointed toward and adapted to react from a cable upon tightening of the screw to anchor the abntmcnts in a box hole, a cable clamp mounted movably on the connecter under the screw end and adapted to be forced against a cable by said screw, and arms included on the cable clamp reaching past the edge of the connecter plate and bent at right angles and directed toward the screw to hold the plate and clamp together in movable relation.

8. A connecter comprising a flat plate adapted to iit into a box hole and formed to expose a part of its edge to a cable, provided with a wire passageat one end, and including box hole edge abutments formed on the other end, with a threaded screw hole placed between the abutments and wire passage, a screw mounted in the threaded hole, said plate being bent at right angles between the screw hole and wire passage; a cable clamp mounted movably on the plate and includ ing a cable passage adapted to embrace a cable, and including a bearing plate placed under the aforesaid flat plate and screw and adapted to be engaged by the screw end, and retaining arms included on the bearing plate which reach up and around the end of the flat plate and retain theplate and cable clamp in movable relation.

4. A connecter comprising a plate adapted to fit into a box hole and formed to expose a part of the box hole edge to acable, two corners of which plate are struck up to form abutments tor one side of a box wall, and a reduced abutment neck between the corners extended beyond lsaid struck up corners and turned at right angles on its end to form an abutment for the other side of a box wall, the abutments being long to prevent pivoting of theplate at the box wall, and a screw mounted 1n the plate adjacent the abutments and adapted to react roma cable.

connecter comprising two main parts V` and embodying a plate having box hole edge anchorage means and formed to fit into a box hole and leave a part of its edge exposed to a cable, andV provided with a screw threaded through the plate adjacent the box hole the connecter plate and bent at right angles and directed toward the screw to hold the plate and clamp together in movable re lation.

6. A connecter comprising two main parts and embodying a plate having box hole edge anchorage means and formed to fit into a box hole and leave a part of its edge exposed to a cable, and provided with a screw threaded through the plate adjacent the box hole anchorage means and pointed toward and adapted to react from a cable upon tightening of the screw to anchor the box hole anchorage means in a box hole, a cable clamp mounted movably on the connecter under the screw end and adapted to be forced against a cable by said screw, arms included on the cable clamp reaching past the edge of the connecter plate and bent at right angles and directed toward the screw to hold the plate and clamp together in movable relation, and a wire passage in said cable clamp at right angles to the clamp plate.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE c. THOMAS, JR.

anchorage means and pointed toward and adapted to react from a cable upon tightening of the screw to anchor the box hole anchorage means in a box hole, a cable clamp mounted movably on the connecter under the screw end and adapted tobe forced against i a cable by said screw, and arms included on the cable clamp reaching past the edge of 

